Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-07-21

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS PAPANDREOU - MEETING

[02] GAROYIAN TURKISH SPEAKER

[03] EXCAVATIONS POLITIKO-TROULLIA

[04] CSSF CYPRUS SHOOTING EVENTS

[01] CHRISTOFIAS PAPANDREOU - MEETING

President Christofias announced on Thursday his proposal for a parallel discussion of three negotiating chapters of property, of territorial adjustments and of immigration, nationality, aliens and asylum.

He also called on Turkey to implement the UN Security Council resolution 550 of 1984, which provides for the return of the city of Famagusta, a city fenced-off since the 1974 Turkish invasion, to the UN, something that could allow the restoration of the city and its return to its legal inhabitants. At the same time, the Greek Cypriot side is ready for the opening of the Famagusta port under the EU for Turkish Cypriot trade.

The third proposal announced by President Christofias concerns the international conference on the Cyprus issue, to discuss the international aspect of the problem, which should be called only when an agreement has been reached on the internal aspects.

Cyprus and Greece estimate that if these proposals were accepted, would pave the way for a solution to the Cyprus problem the soonest possible.

The decision for the promotion of these proposals was announced in a common Press Conference of President Christofias and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou at Larnaka International Airport. Christofias and Papandreou, who made a stopover in Cyprus on his way to Israel, held their meeting at the airport.

Papandreou said that the proposals show that President Christofias is a step ahead on the initiatives for the solution of the Cyprus problem, while President Christofias expressed his conviction that the proposals could pave the way for a solution.

With my presence in Cyprus, I would like to reassure that the Cyprus issue will continue to constitute an immediate priority of the Greek foreign policy, Papandreou stressed.

Papandreou also noted that the solution of the Cyprus issue constitutes a prerequisite for the full normalization of the Greek-Turkish relations.

The Greek Prime Minister stressed that the target remains the termination of the Turkish occupation and the finding of a just, viable and functional solution, based on the UN resolutions, the EU values and principles, without strict timeframes and arbitration. A solution in the context of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federal state, with political equality, as defined in the UN resolutions, with a single sovereignty, one international personality and one citizenship, he added.

He also welcomed the proposals announced by President Christofias regarding the linkage of three negotiating chapters in the talks, the return of the city of Famagusta with the simultaneous opening of the citys port, and the Cyprus position for the international conference.

These proposals could speed up the bi-communal talks, and could significantly improve the climate. They prove that President Christofias is a step ahead in the initiatives for the solution of the Cyprus problem. We wish the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey will seriously consider them, he pointed out.

Finally, Papandreou reiterated that Greece fully supports the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus for a solution.

President Christofias thanked Papandreou for his support and his efforts to deal with Turkeys and its friends manipulations.

He reiterated that the solution will be based on principles and will constitute an honourable and mutually accepted compromise. The solution will be a bi-zobal, bi-communal federation with political equality as defined by the UN relevant resolutions, for one state with one and single sovereignty, citizenship and international personality. A solution that will provide the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots the chance to build up their future in a common homeland, he stressed.

Christofias stated that he had the opportunity to brief the Greek Prime Minister on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and the situation since Dervis Eroglu took over the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Christofias underlined that to the communication tactic of Turkey, which aims at blaming the Greek Cypriot side, we respond with action, and added that Greek Cypriot side wishes to see the direct negotiations to move forward.

Referring to the proposals, Christofias said that if these proposals would be accepted by the other side, it will change the climate and lead to positive results for the Turkish Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots and Turkey.

After explaining his three proposals, President Christofias said that during todays meeting, they decided the coordination, at the level of the leadership and the diplomatic level as well, in the European and international area with an aim to promote of our proposal, which really can pave the way for a solution to the Cyprus problem the soonest possible.

Finally, he expressed the gratitude of the people of Cyprus towards the Government, the political leadership and the people of Greece for their support to the efforts for finding a solution and reunification of the island.

Peace talks began in September 2008 between President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was replaced by Eroglu in April this year.

[02] GAROYIAN TURKISH SPEAKER

In a written statement, which was circulated in the 3rh World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, Garoyian states that ``contrary to the claims of the President of the Turkish Parliament, the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus resulted in the mass violation of basic human rights of all Cypriots, including the Turkish Cypriots.``He notes that despite Turkey`s intransigent stance and lack of respect to international law, the President of the Republic and the Greek Cypriot side continues efforts to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions, the international law, as well as principles and values on which the EU is founded on.

Responding to Sahin`s assertion that the Turkish invasion has ensured peace and stability on the island, Garoyian notes that ``all these years the people of Cyprus is being deprived of its basic human rights which in other European states are considered granted.

``The respect and implementation of international law by Turkey is a prerequisite for a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus problem. Claims such as those of the Turkish House President, in the framework of the Conference occupied with the role of the UN, democracy and international legality, show that unfortunately Turkey is not yet ready to proceed to that direction,`` Garoyian concludes.

[03] EXCAVATIONS POLITIKO-TROULLIA

According to an announcement issued by the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, the archaeological investigations at the Bronze Age community of Politiko-Troullia, lying about 25 km southwest of Nicosia near Ayios Irakleidios Monastery, have been completed for 2010.

The excavations were conducted under the direction of Dr. Steven Falconer and Dr. Patricia Fall of Arizona State University. This years fieldwork revealed extensive evidence of the Bronze Age community that was the predecessor of ancient Tamassos, the seat of an important kingdom during the subsequent Iron Age. The archaeological deposits at Politiko-Troullia reach depths of up to four metres below the modern surface, making this site one of the deepest stratified sites on the island of Cyprus, the announcement says.

[04] CSSF CYPRUS SHOOTING EVENTS

According to a press release by the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation (CSSF), Rois Herodotou was elected member of the International Federations Sporting Technical Committee and Loucas Psimolophitis member of the equivalent Compak committee.

Moreover, Cyprus has secured the organization of FITASCs both top shooting events, namely the Compak World Games of 2012, which will be held at the Olympic Shooting Center in Latsia; and the European Sporting Games of 2014, to be held at the Limassol International Shooting Center.

Following the announcement, members of the Greek Shooting Sport Federation were elected for the first time in FITASC committees, with the backing of CSSF. In particular, Panayiotis Themelides was elected at the Universal Trench Technical Committee, while Ioannis Anastasiou was elected at the Combined Game Shooting Technical Committee.

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